Yanda Aboriginal Art
Western Desert Art Specialists
Yanda Aboriginal Art was founded in Alice Springs in 1997 by our Director Mr Chris Simon OAM.
Many of our loyal clients have enquired over the years as to what is the genesis of our name “Yanda”. The name originates from a sheep station Chris previously owned and operated in far western NSW called ‘Yanda Creek Station’. The word “Yanda” is derived from an aboriginal dialect of the region, and means “lost in time”.
OUR ART COMPLEX
Our Yanda Art complex is situated on a delightful rural property, located a tranquil 15 minute drive from Alice Springs. It features accommodation facilities for our artists, painting studio, a major gallery show room and a workshop where our Belgian linen is meticulously prepared to museum quality.
There is also a swimming pool and fire pit. Yanda’s studio affords our artists & their families with an inspirational yet relaxed locale to truly immerse themselves in their passion for creating remarkable western desert art.
The Yanda Studio has been utilised by many of Australia’s most successful and highly-respected aboriginal desert artists. These include names such as Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (aka Mrs Bennett), Yannima Tommy Watson, Naata Nungarrayi, Warllimpirringa Tjapaltjarri, Esther Giles Nampitjinpa, Walala Tjapaltjarri, George Tjungarrayi, Mary Brown Napangardi, Paddy Lewis Tjapaltjarri, Tatali Napurrula, and Turkey Tolson, plus many other leading desert artists.
We own a library of antiquarian books pertaining to indigenous art and culture. Yanda has also financed and published books by renowned indigenous art author Dr. Ken McGregor. The library also features an impressive collection of rare indigenous artefacts.
OUR ALICE SPRINGS GALLERY
Visit our gallery at 2A/70 Todd Street, Alice Springs & be prepared to experience some of the finest western desert art in the country.
Director Chris Simon & experienced gallery manager Marshall Whyler will take the time to personally walk you through the gallery. If you so wish, they will impart their extensive knowledge on the artworks & the artists who created them. You might even be lucky enough to be in the gallery when one of our artists comes in for a visit.
THE YANDA DIFFERENCE
At Yanda we adhere to the 3 Yanda pillars of success;
- We forge very close & long term relationships with our artists. They are treated like family at our Yanda Studio & are remunerated ethically.
- Our artists are given only the very best museum grade Belgian linen & high grade paints.
- Expert advice & unrivalled service has created a reputation for excellence that means many of our clients will not purchase western desert art without first consulting us.
In April 2004, director Chris Simon was duly recognised as an Individual Founder Benefactor under the terms of the Constitution of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation.
In June 2017, Chris hosted His Excellency General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC (Retd), Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove for a tour of the Yanda artist complex in Alice Springs.
Director Chris Simon is an Honorary Senior Fellow at USC University and in 2019 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to the visual arts through support for and promotion of Aboriginal Art in Australia.
Yanda is a proud member of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia.
The Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA) serves and represents artists, individuals and organisations that produce, promote, protect or support Indigenous art and the cultures that create and nurture that art.
Yanda Aboriginal Art
Western Desert Art Specialists
Yanda Aboriginal Art was founded in Alice Springs in 1997 by our Director Mr Chris Simon OAM.
Many of our loyal clients have enquired over the years as to what is the genesis of our name “Yanda”. The name originates from a sheep station Chris previously owned and operated in far western NSW called ‘Yanda Creek Station’. The word “Yanda” is derived from an aboriginal dialect of the region, and means “lost in time”.
OUR ART COMPLEX
Our Yanda Art complex is situated on a delightful rural property, located a tranquil 15 minute drive from Alice Springs. It features accommodation facilities for our artists, painting studio, a major gallery show room and a workshop where our Belgian linen is meticulously prepared to museum quality.
There is also a swimming pool and fire pit. Yanda’s studio affords our artists & their families with an inspirational yet relaxed locale to truly immerse themselves in their passion for creating remarkable western desert art.
The Yanda Studio has been utilised by many of Australia’s most successful and highly-respected aboriginal desert artists. These include names such as Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (aka Mrs Bennett), Yannima Tommy Watson, Naata Nungarrayi, Warllimpirringa Tjapaltjarri, Esther Giles Nampitjinpa, Walala Tjapaltjarri, George Tjungarrayi, Mary Brown Napangardi, Paddy Lewis Tjapaltjarri, Tatali Napurrula, and Turkey Tolson, plus many other leading desert artists.
We own a library of antiquarian books pertaining to indigenous art and culture. Yanda has also financed and published books by renowned indigenous art author Dr. Ken McGregor. The library also features an impressive collection of rare indigenous artefacts.
OUR ALICE SPRINGS GALLERY
Visit our gallery at 2A/70 Todd Street, Alice Springs & be prepared to experience some of the finest western desert art in the country.
Director Chris Simon & experienced gallery manager Marshall Whyler will take the time to personally walk you through the gallery. If you so wish, they will impart their extensive knowledge on the artworks & the artists who created them. You might even be lucky enough to be in the gallery when one of our artists comes in for a visit.
THE YANDA DIFFERENCE
At Yanda we adhere to the 3 Yanda pillars of success;
- We forge very close & long term relationships with our artists. They are treated like family at our Yanda Studio & are remunerated ethically.
- Our artists are given only the very best museum grade Belgian linen & high grade paints.
- Expert advice & unrivalled service has created a reputation for excellence that means many of our clients will not purchase western desert art without first consulting us.
In April 2004, director Chris Simon was duly recognised as an Individual Founder Benefactor under the terms of the Constitution of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation.
In June 2017, Chris hosted His Excellency General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC (Retd), Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove for a tour of the Yanda artist complex in Alice Springs.
Director Chris Simon is an Honorary Senior Fellow at USC University and in 2019 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to the visual arts through support for and promotion of Aboriginal Art in Australia.
Yanda is a proud member of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia.
The Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA) serves and represents artists, individuals and organisations that produce, promote, protect or support Indigenous art and the cultures that create and nurture that art.
Chris Simon, Director
Two common questions are asked about Aboriginal art. Why are there similarities between the work of artists from the same tribal-language groups, and why are the same themes and iconography depicted by different individuals. A multiple of lifetimes would not produce a definitive thesis on Aboriginal art and culture. The following summary might assist in providing partial answers.
An Aboriginal persons culture and their art are intimately linked to their country and the stories passed down from one generation to another. It is their Tjukurrpa; we call it their Dreamtime. Their Tjukurrpa is not metaphor; it exists.
Since we all differ as individuals we can expect to find variations in workmanship and interpretation according to the individual artists talent. We can not and must not compare European arts development with Aboriginal art specific to a tribal region.
The primary task of Aboriginal art – be it on modern canvas or executed traditionally in ground paintings, body paintings and petroglyphs is to express ongoing myth and distant past. With regards to “schools” of indigenous art the basic fact is not about the individual and those who follow him or her, but that of tribal groups possessing a common heritage myth, ceremony and geographical environment and tribal boundaries.
Yanda Aboriginal Art showcases works painted by Australian Indigenous artists across one of the most remote and vast areas on earth. A kaleidoscope of images, a glimpse into indigenous culture, that spectacularly shows both the diversity over vast tribal regions and the similarities in specific tribal cultures.
Chris Simon, Director.
Chris Simon, Director
Two common questions are asked about Aboriginal art. Why are there similarities between the work of artists from the same tribal-language groups, and why are the same themes and iconography depicted by different individuals. A multiple of lifetimes would not produce a definitive thesis on Aboriginal art and culture. The following summary might assist in providing partial answers.
An Aboriginal persons culture and their art are intimately linked to their country and the stories passed down from one generation to another. It is their Tjukurrpa; we call it their Dreamtime. Their Tjukurrpa is not metaphor; it exists.
Since we all differ as individuals we can expect to find variations in workmanship and interpretation according to the individual artists talent. We can not and must not compare European arts development with Aboriginal art specific to a tribal region.
The primary task of Aboriginal art – be it on modern canvas or executed traditionally in ground paintings, body paintings and petroglyphs is to express ongoing myth and distant past. With regards to “schools” of indigenous art the basic fact is not about the individual and those who follow him or her, but that of tribal groups possessing a common heritage myth, ceremony and geographical environment and tribal boundaries.
Yanda Aboriginal Art showcases works painted by Australian Indigenous artists across one of the most remote and vast areas on earth. A kaleidoscope of images, a glimpse into indigenous culture, that spectacularly shows both the diversity over vast tribal regions and the similarities in specific tribal cultures.
Chris Simon, Director.
From the remote and harsh deserts of Central Australia to the world
Yanda Art Private Library
Yanda Aboriginal Art possesses one of the most extensive collections of antiquarian books and manuscripts on Australian indigenous culture outside of public institutions. We have made the collection available to the general public.
Yanda Clients and Affiliations
-South Australian Museum
-Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
-University of the Sunshine Coast
-Benetton Group, Italy
-Imago Mundi, Benetton Collection, Italy
Auction Houses
Yanda Art Private Library
Yanda Aboriginal Art possesses one of the most extensive collections of antiquarian books and manuscripts on Australian indigenous culture outside of public institutions. We have made the collection available to the general public.
Yanda Clients and Affiliations
-South Australian Museum
-Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
-University of the Sunshine Coast
-Benetton Group, Italy
-Imago Mundi, Benetton Collection, Italy
Auction Houses
Copyright 2019 Yanda Aboriginal Art